About Queen Elizabeth's High School, Gainsborough (QEHS)
Queen Elizabeth's High School, Gainsborough (QEHS) is a co-educational grammar school in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, admitting 180 pupils per year. Founded in 1528, it is part of the Lincolnshire Consortium of Grammar Schools and uses the shared GL Assessment entrance test. Registration closes 20th March 2026.
Queen Elizabeth's High School, Gainsborough (QEHS) provides an excellent education with high academic standards and a broad curriculum. GCSE 9–7: 41.2%. A-Level A*–B: 54%.
About the GL Assessment 11+ Test for Queen Elizabeth's High School, Gainsborough (QEHS)
Queen Elizabeth's High School, Gainsborough (QEHS) is a co-educational state grammar school in England that uses the GL Assessment 11+ entrance test to select pupils for Year 7 admission. The school admits approximately 180 Year 7 pupils each September, and applications must be made through your home Local Authority via the Common Application Form (CAF) — never directly to the school.
The GL Assessment 11+ is one of two main 11+ test providers in England (the other being CEM, now retired in many regions). The Lincs test typically consists of multiple papers covering English, Mathematics, Verbal Reasoning, and Non-Verbal Reasoning. Scores are standardised against the cohort age distribution, so younger pupils are not disadvantaged. Each school sets its own qualifying mark (pass mark).
For 2027 entry, the GL Assessment test is sat in Saturday 20 September 2026 and results are released to parents on Mid-October 2026 — crucially, before the Common Application Form deadline of Friday 31 October 2026, giving parents time to consider results before listing school preferences. National Offers Day is Monday 1 March 2027, when Local Authorities issue Year 7 secondary school offers.
Queen Elizabeth's High School, Gainsborough (QEHS) is academically selective — pupils must achieve the qualifying mark in the 11+ test to be eligible for a place. If applications exceed the published admission number (180 places), the school applies its oversubscription criteria (looked-after children, FSME, siblings, distance) to allocate places. This page is updated each year with the latest verified admissions criteria, key dates and oversubscription rules.
Year 7 Admissions Guide for Queen Elizabeth's High School, Gainsborough (QEHS)
Queen Elizabeth's High School, Gainsborough (QEHS) Admissions Criteria
Queen Elizabeth's High School, Gainsborough (QEHS) is a co-educational grammar school in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, admitting 180 pupils per year. Founded in 1528, it is part of the Lincolnshire Consortium of Grammar Schools and uses the shared GL Assessment entrance test. Registration closes 20th March 2026.
- ✓Register via the QEHS website — registration deadline is Friday 20th March 2026.
- ✓Sit two GL Assessment multiple-choice papers on consecutive Saturdays in September (Year 6).
- ✓Paper 1 — Verbal Reasoning (80 questions, 50 min); Paper 2 — Non-Verbal & Spatial Reasoning (5 timed sections).
- ✓Top 25% of local cohort are deemed to have passed the test.
- ✓Looked-after and previously looked-after children (highest priority).
- ✓Children within the QEHS catchment area who achieve the qualifying standard.
- ✓All other qualifying children, ranked by distance from school.
Queen Elizabeth's High School, Gainsborough (QEHS) Oversubscription Criteria
If applications exceed the 180 Year 7 admission number, the Board of Governors / Trust applies the following criteria in priority order. Final ranking uses the standardised score achieved in the GL Assessment 11+ entrance test.
- Looked-after / previously looked-after children (highest priority by law)
- Children who achieve the qualifying mark in the entrance test (above the qualifying standard set by Queen Elizabeth's High School, Gainsborough (QEHS))
- Children eligible for Pupil Premium / Free School Meals Entitlement (FSME)
- Children with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) naming the school
- Children with sibling(s) currently attending the school
- Children of staff (where staff member has worked at the school for 2+ years)
- Children ranked by total standardised score (highest first) up to the published admission number
- Tiebreak: distance from home to school (straight-line measurement) for children with equal scores
Key Dates & Deadlines — Queen Elizabeth's High School, Gainsborough (QEHS) 2026 Entry
| 📌 Registration opens | May 2026 via Lincolnshire 11+ portal |
| 📌 Registration closes | mid-July 2026 |
| 📌 GL Assessment 11+ Entrance Test | Saturday 20 September 2026 (Verbal + Non-Verbal Reasoning) |
| 📌 Test results released | Mid-October 2026 |
| 📌 CAF deadline (apply via Local Authority) | Friday 31 October 2026 |
| 📌 National Offers Day | Monday 1 March 2027 |
How to Apply to Queen Elizabeth's High School, Gainsborough (QEHS) via the Common Application Form
Step 1 — Register your child for the GL Assessment 11+ Test
Register through your regional 11+ portal (e.g. Lincs) when registration opens. Closes mid-July 2026. There is no fee to sit the GL Assessment test.
Step 2 — Attend an Open Day at Queen Elizabeth's High School, Gainsborough (QEHS)
Visit during Year 5 or early Year 6 to meet staff and pupils and decide whether to list this school on your CAF.
Step 3 — Sit the GL Assessment Entrance Test
Your child sits the GL Assessment in Saturday 20 September 2026. The test typically covers English, Mathematics, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning, with standardised scores age-adjusted.
Step 4 — Receive your standardised test results
Test results are released to parents on Mid-October 2026, BEFORE the Common Application Form deadline. You will receive a standardised score and an indication of whether your child has passed the qualifying mark.
Step 5 — Complete your Common Application Form (CAF)
List Queen Elizabeth's High School, Gainsborough (QEHS) as one of your preferences on the CAF submitted via your home Local Authority (not the school's LA, unless they are the same). You can usually list 3-6 preferences depending on your LA.
Step 6 — Submit the CAF by the deadline
Submit your CAF by Friday 31 October 2026. Late applications are processed only after all on-time applications have been allocated, dramatically reducing your chance of a place.
Step 7 — Receive your school offer on National Offers Day
Offers are issued via your Local Authority on Monday 1 March 2027. If unsuccessful, you can appeal or join Queen Elizabeth's High School, Gainsborough (QEHS)'s waiting list — managed by the school itself.
GL Assessment Subjects Tested at Queen Elizabeth's High School, Gainsborough (QEHS)
QEHS Gainsborough selects through the Lincolnshire 11+ (GL Assessment), sat once for the county's grammar schools — two electronically marked, age-standardised reasoning papers of around 50 minutes each, with a combined qualifying mark of 220.
- Verbal reasoning: word-based logic, vocabulary and comprehension.
- Non-verbal / spatial reasoning: visual patterns, shapes and problem-solving.
Note: the Lincolnshire test is reasoning-only — there are no separate English or maths papers.
GL Assessment Practice Papers for Queen Elizabeth's High School, Gainsborough (QEHS)
Queen Elizabeth's High School, Gainsborough (QEHS) uses the GL Assessment 11+ format. Our practice papers closely mirror the actual test structure — with full video explanations for every question.
- 3 × English, Maths, VR & NVR tests
- 600 video explanations
- 31.5 hours of video content
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- 600 video explanations
- 28.5 hours of video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 11.5 hrs video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
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- 10.5 hrs video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 9.5 hrs video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
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- 10 hrs video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 9.5 hrs video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 9 hrs video content
How to Prepare for the Queen Elizabeth's High School, Gainsborough (QEHS) 11+ Exam
ExamTutor practice papers with tutor explanations for every question offers an affordable substitute for private tuition for a fraction of the cost.
📋 Take a Diagnostic Test
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Start at least 6–12 months before the exam. Focus extra time on weaker subjects.
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Watch video solutions for incorrect answers. Rewatch difficult topics until confident.
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Academic Performance at Queen Elizabeth's High School, Gainsborough (GCSE & A-Level Results)
Queen Elizabeth's High School, Gainsborough (QEHS) has a strong academic record at GCSE and A-Level and is regularly listed among the country's leading state schools, supported by a music and languages tradition and Healthy School status.
- GCSE & A-Level: consistently strong results across a broad curriculum.
- Sixth form: a co-educational sixth form admitting around 125 students each year.
- Specialism: a long-standing strength in music and languages.
Exam results change annually, so always confirm the latest published figures on the school's website.
Catchment Area for Queen Elizabeth's High School, Gainsborough
Admission to Year 7 is through the Lincolnshire 11+, set and marked by GL Assessment for the Lincolnshire Consortium of Grammar Schools — so a child sits it once for the county's grammar schools. It is two multiple-choice papers (each around 50 minutes) taken on consecutive Saturdays in September at the school: Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal/Spatial Reasoning (there are no separate English or maths papers); papers are electronically marked and age-standardised, and the combined score must reach the consortium's standardised qualifying mark of 220 (broadly the top 25%). The school provides two familiarisation tests, and families register through Lincolnshire County Council.
The school admits around 180 pupils to Year 7 and uses a 9-mile catchment (measured by driving distance): after qualified children, 'local' children living within nine miles are prioritised nearest-first, with remaining places ranked by test score. Always confirm the current arrangements in the school's admissions booklet.
Pastoral Care, Sport & Extracurricular Life
Queen Elizabeth's High School, Gainsborough (QEHS) is a co-educational grammar for ages 11–18 on Morton Terrace in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire (DN21 2ST), with around 1,200 pupils. Its history reaches back to 1589, when Queen Elizabeth I granted Sir Robert Somerscale permission to establish a grammar school; the present school was formed in 1983 from the merger of the former boys' grammar school and Gainsborough High School for girls, and carries the motto 'Tradition, Achievement, Opportunity'.
The school combines academic tradition with modern teaching, a strong musical heritage and a house system (Austen, Brunel, Churchill, Darwin, Elgar and Scott) that supports a wide extracurricular life. For the full list of activities and pastoral arrangements, see the school's own website.
Frequently Asked Questions about Queen Elizabeth's High School, Gainsborough
How do I apply to Queen Elizabeth's High School, Gainsborough (QEHS) for Year 7?
Applications to Queen Elizabeth's High School, Gainsborough (QEHS) are made through your home Local Authority Common Application Form (CAF) — not directly to the school. Your child must sit the GL Assessment 11+ test (registration closes mid-July 2026), then list Queen Elizabeth's High School, Gainsborough (QEHS) on the CAF. The CAF deadline is Friday 31 October 2026.
Does Queen Elizabeth's High School, Gainsborough (QEHS) use the GL Assessment 11+ test?
Yes — Queen Elizabeth's High School, Gainsborough (QEHS) uses the GL Assessment 11+ entrance test for Year 7 admission, taken in Saturday 20 September 2026 (Verbal + Non-Verbal Reasoning). The test covers English, Mathematics, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning, with standardised age-adjusted scores.
What is the pass mark / qualifying score for Queen Elizabeth's High School, Gainsborough (QEHS)?
Queen Elizabeth's High School, Gainsborough (QEHS) sets its own qualifying mark each year. Pupils must score at or above the qualifying mark to be eligible for a place. Final ranking is by total standardised score (highest first) up to the admission number of 180 places.
How many Year 7 places does Queen Elizabeth's High School, Gainsborough (QEHS) have?
Queen Elizabeth's High School, Gainsborough (QEHS) admits 180 Year 7 pupils each September. Demand for places typically exceeds supply, so the school applies its oversubscription criteria (looked-after children, FSME, siblings, distance) to allocate places fairly.
When are GL Assessment results released in 2026?
For 2027 Year 7 entry, GL Assessment test results are released on Mid-October 2026 — before the Common Application Form deadline of Friday 31 October 2026. You will receive a standardised score and an indication of whether your child has passed the qualifying mark.
When is National Offers Day for Queen Elizabeth's High School, Gainsborough (QEHS) in 2027?
National Offers Day for Year 7 secondary school places in England is Monday 1 March 2027. Offers are issued by your home Local Authority — not directly by the school. If unsuccessful, you can appeal or join Queen Elizabeth's High School, Gainsborough (QEHS)'s waiting list.
Is Queen Elizabeth's High School, Gainsborough (QEHS) a state school or fee-paying?
Queen Elizabeth's High School, Gainsborough (QEHS) is a state-funded grammar school — there are no tuition fees. As a state grammar, it is academically selective via the GL Assessment 11+ test, but pupils who pass the test do not pay to attend.
How can my child prepare for the Queen Elizabeth's High School, Gainsborough (QEHS) 11+ test?
ExamTutor offers a complete GL Assessment 11+ preparation programme including tutor-led practice papers, full video explanations for every question (covering all GL topic areas — English, Mathematics, Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning), and downloadable resources. Most parents start preparation 12-18 months before the September 11+ test.
Where can I find Queen Elizabeth's High School, Gainsborough (QEHS)'s official admissions policy?
The full Admissions Policy for Queen Elizabeth's High School, Gainsborough (QEHS) 2027 entry is published on the school's official website. Always check the school's website for the most up-to-date oversubscription criteria, qualifying mark, supplementary forms (if any), and any school-specific application requirements.